History - Skin Cancer News

TUESDAY, Dec. 6, 2016 – Restricting people younger than 18 from indoor tanning could prevent thousands of skin cancers and deaths in the United States, according to a new study. An age limitation would also save the country hundreds of millions of dollars in skin cancer treatment costs, researchers found. "This research concretely demonstrates the potential health benefits of an under-18 age restriction for indoor tanning," said Dr. Abel Torres, president of the American Academy of Dermatology Association. People who engage in indoor tanning are exposed to ultraviolet radiation, a major risk factor for skin cancer. Using indoor tanning before age 35 increases the risk of melanoma – the deadliest type of skin cancer – with each use, the researchers said. Last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed a ban on indoor tanning by people younger than 18. At least a dozen states ... Read more

FRIDAY, Dec. 2, 2016 – Plastic surgery patients should avoid smoking e-cigarettes for at least four weeks before their procedures, two plastic surgeons advise. Patients who smoke are believed to face a higher risk of skin flap failure, apparently because nicotine reduces blood flow, the surgeons said. "Based on our current best knowledge, it seems reasonable to advise plastic surgery candidates to cease e-cigarette use," said Dr. Peter Taub,, of Mount Sinai Medical Center and Dr. Alan Matarasso of Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Both are in New York City. "Refraining from [e-cigarette] use four weeks before surgery is a prudent course of action, despite the fact that it has yet to be determined if the effects are similar to traditional cigarettes," they added. The doctors noted that there are still plenty of unanswered questions about the safety of e-cigarettes, which produce ... Read more

THURSDAY, Dec. 1, 2016 – A new study raises the possibility that people who enjoy a glass of white wine every day may face a slightly elevated risk of melanoma. Total alcohol intake was associated with a 14 percent higher risk of melanoma per drink per day, researchers found. But, when they looked at the type of alcohol consumed, white wine emerged as the potential culprit. Each drink per day of white wine was associated with a 13 percent higher risk of melanoma, the researchers said. "Per drink" risk was based on 12.8 grams of alcohol – the median amount of alcohol in a beer, a glass of wine or a shot of spirits. Beer, red wine and liquor did not significantly affect melanoma risk, the study authors added. The study does not prove that white wine causes this deadly skin cancer. It merely shows an association, though one worth exploring, the researchers said. "We are just adding one ... Read more

FRIDAY, Nov. 25, 2016 – Most indoor tanning salons in Texas comply with a law banning customers younger than 18, a new study found. Females posing as 17-year-olds called 829 tanning businesses statewide. Workers at 81 percent of the salons told the caller they could not use indoor tanning if they were 17, even with a parent's permission. "This level of compliance with the under-18 ban enacted by the Texas Legislature in 2013 underscores the importance of this approach as a strategy for skin cancer prevention," study lead author Mary Tripp said. Tripp is an instructor in behavioral science at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Despite high compliance with the under-18 ban, 83 percent of salons said clients could tan every day, Tripp noted in a university news release. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends no more than three sessions during the first week of ... Read more

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 23, 2016 – Our most common skin bacteria may help shield us from some skin diseases, a new study suggests. Swedish researchers report that Propionibacterium acnes secretes a protein called RoxP that protects against bacteria that are believed to contribute to several skin disorders. Specifically, RoxP protects against skin cell damage called oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen bacteria. UV radiation from the sun is a common cause of oxidative stress on the skin. Oxidative stress is believed to contribute to several skin diseases, including eczema, psoriasis and skin cancer. The protective effect of RoxP is as strong as antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, according to the study published recently in the journal Scientific Reports. "This protein is important for the bacterium's very survival on our skin. The bacterium improves its living environment by secreting ... Read more

THURSDAY, Nov. 10, 2016 – Some people at high risk of melanoma may benefit from more "tailored" skin exams, a new study suggests. Melanoma is the least common, but most serious form of skin cancer. It's estimated that about 76,400 Americans will be diagnosed with the disease in 2016, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Melanoma can be caught early if suspicious growths on the skin are detected. The new study, researchers said, helps zero in on some groups who may need to start skin exams at a younger age, or do them more often: People with a personal or family history of melanoma; and those with a lot of moles on their skin. The report also gives an idea of which body areas people should monitor with particular attention, according to lead researcher Caroline Watts. She's a research fellow at the Sydney School of Public Health, at the University of Sydney in Australia. But ... Read more

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 12, 2016 – Frequent indoor tanners don't protect themselves from the sun and are no more likely to be screened for skin cancer than those who don't tan indoors, a new study suggests. The researchers analyzed data from a 2015 federal government health survey. It included more than 10,200 white adults aged 18 to 60 with no history of skin cancer. Of those, 7 percent said they had tanned indoors within the past year; 3.6 percent had done so one to nine times, and 3.4 percent had done it 10 times or more, the findings showed. Frequent indoor tanning was associated with less use of sunscreen, sun-protective clothing and shade while outdoors, and with several sunburns in the past year. In addition, frequent indoor tanners aged 18 to 34 were more likely to rarely or never wear sun-protective clothing or to seek shade on a sunny day than those who had never used a tanning bed. ... Read more

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 21, 2016 – People who have an organ transplant may be more likely to develop skin cancer, new research suggests. The finding applies to all transplant patients, even those who are nonwhite and dark-skinned, according to Dr. Christina Lee Chung, an associate professor of dermatology at Drexel University in Philadelphia, and colleagues. The researchers said the risk increases over time with ongoing exposure to medications that suppress the immune system to prevent organ rejection. Total-body skin exams should be a routine part of care after transplant surgery, the study authors advised. For the study, the researchers analyzed medical records of 413 organ transplant recipients, 63 percent of whom were not white. The investigators found 19 new skin cancers in 15 of the nonwhite patients. That group included six black patients, five Asians and four Hispanics. Among the ... Read more

THURSDAY, Sept. 1, 2016 – Cancer patients face an added risk of injuries while their condition is being diagnosed, a new study says. The findings show the need for more effort to prevent both accidental and other types of injuries while patients await a diagnosis, according to the researchers. Led by Qing Shen, a postgraduate student in the department of medical epidemiology and biostatistics at Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, researchers studied injury-related hospitalizations of cancer patients in Sweden between 1990 and 2010. The investigators focused on the 16 weeks before and after diagnosis. During that time, nearly 721,000 patients were hospitalized. These cases included 7,300 injuries from medical complications and drug treatments, and over 8,300 injuries from accidents or intentional self-harm, the study findings showed. The risk for medical-related injuries is "not ... Read more

-- Having lots of moles may mean you're worried about skin cancer. Checking your skin often for changes and certain warning signs can help alleviate those fears. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends: Regularly inspect your skin, evaluating all of your moles. Look for any changes or unusual looking moles. See your dermatologist if any of your moles bleed, itch or change. Don't lie in the sun or use a tanning bed. Use sunscreen whenever outdoors to help prevent sunburn. See a dermatologist if you have 100 or more moles, or a significant portion of your body is covered with darker patches. Read more

TUESDAY, July 26, 2016 – There currently isn't enough scientific proof to recommend regular full-body exams for skin cancer as a means of preventing deaths from these cancers, a leading panel of U.S. preventive health experts has concluded. An updated evidence review found scant evidence on either the benefits or harms of a health care professional performing a skin exam as part of a patient's regular check-up, said Dr. David Grossman. He is vice-chairperson of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). "We don't know if taking the extra time to examine every inch of someone's skin actually does yield benefit or causes no harm," Grossman said. Despite this, people should regularly check their own bodies for signs of skin cancer, and report anything unusual to their doctor, he added. "Someone who's got a mole they're worried about because it's growing and changing colors, they're ... Read more

TUESDAY, July 12, 2016 – DNA that's tied to red hair, fair skin and freckles may also be highly linked to a person's genetic odds of skin cancer, new research suggests. The study's British authors estimate that having the gene is roughly equivalent to the person spending an extra 21 years in the sun. "It has been known for a while that a person with red hair has an increased likelihood of developing skin cancer, but this is the first time that the gene [tied to red hair] has been proven to be associated with skin cancers with more mutations," study co-lead author Dr. David Adams, of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, said in an institute news release. A skin cancer expert in the United States stressed that redheads can still prevent getting skin cancer. However, they may need a little extra help in determining their genetic risk. "Identifying this subset of patients could [someday] ... Read more

WEDNESDAY, June 29, 2016 – Check this out: Getting a partner trained to spot potential skin cancers can be a lifesaver for melanoma survivors, a new study shows. "'Skin check partners' help melanoma patients to see areas they cannot easily see by themselves, and assist in making a decision about whether the mole changed and they need to see the doctor," explained lead researcher Dr. June Robinson. Together, "the trained pair works together successfully to find early melanoma," explained Robinson, who's a professor of dermatology at Northwestern University in Chicago. Melanoma patients are at increased risk for developing more melanomas, so early detection of new melanomas can save their lives. In the new study, Robinson's team assigned 494 melanoma patients and their partners to one of two groups: standard care or special training in skin self-examination. The training was provided ... Read more

THURSDAY, June 23, 2016 – A healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise and eating nutritiously can lower your risk of developing cancer by as much as 45 percent, a new evidence review concludes. The review also found that people who followed cancer prevention guidelines for diet and activity were up to 61 percent less likely to die from cancer, the researchers reported. "Overall, we saw there is quite a reduction in getting cancer or dying from cancer if you follow [cancer-prevention] guidelines," said lead researcher Lindsay Kohler, a doctoral student in epidemiology at the University of Arizona's Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. Healthy living is particularly effective in preventing breast, endometrial and colon cancer, Kohler and her colleagues found. Living right can reduce risk of breast cancer by 19 percent to 60 percent, endometrial cancer by 23 percent to ... Read more

WEDNESDAY, June 22, 2016 – The use of patient navigators – people who help patients receive health care services – improved cancer screening rates among low-income and ethnic minority patients, a new study reports. "These findings demonstrate how effective patient navigators can be for patients who, for a variety of reasons, encounter obstacles to receiving cancer screening," said study author Dr. Sanja Percac-Lima. She is physician leader for cancer outreach at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Center for Community Health Improvement. "Health disparities pose a major challenge to low-income and ethnic minority patients, and our study suggests a proactive approach may help increase their chances of receiving the care they need," Percac-Lima explained in a hospital news release. The research included more than 1,600 patients at 18 MGH primary care practices. The patients were ... Read more